kutenay,

I'm in need of new boots and would appreciate your input. I've read some of your posts on the subject and find your experience/opinions to be very helpful.

My main interest is hunting bear and general big game. I like good ankle support but not necessarily to the degree of sheep hunting. I do hike for miles covering various mountainous terrain. I routinely ford knee-high rocky streams and manytimes use streams and creeks as travel routes.

My current setup is Lacrosse hippers (that have seen better days) w/ Impertech bibs when needed. I've used a good pair of low-cut Lowas in the past and would take them off when stream crossing (either barefoot or have taken neoprene socks w/ crepe soles). I didn't like that option and found it dangerous esp. with a heavy pack. On occassion I've used an old pair of 14" high Lacrosse packs w/ a heavy duty neoprene gravel guards over the top and a couple wraps of duct tape over the neoprene to prevent tears. This rig was good for about 16" of water and or muck. These fit me fair but only hiked so-so w/ a heavy pack.

I've worn out the above boots and am in need of replacement.

I prefer the better fit and support of a good hiking boot vs. my hippers with the ability to handle multiple days of being wet w/out soaking through.

So far I've been looking at these:

Lowa Hunter GTX Extreme $295:
http://www.lowaboots.com/catalog/ShowBoot.cfm?StockNum=...55&Category=2&Type=M
Also at Schnee's as the Sheep Hunter $280:
http://www.schnees.com/

AJBrooks Meinld Dover Extreme $375:
http://www.ajbrooks.com/qs/product/40/2352/139729/0/0
Cabela's version Alaskan Hunter $270:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/sta...cat550012&hasJS=true

Lanthrop&Sons Hanwag Trapper Top GTX $364:
http://lathropandsons.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/22/products_id/36

Hoffman Outback $200:
https://ssl25.pair.com/keycomm/hoffmanboots.com/shoppin...egory_Search=hunting

I also looked at the Viberg 44 Hunter (unk price?):
http://www.workboot.com/hunter.htm

I will have a struggle with prices over $300 such as the Hanwag and AJBrooks Meindl, but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot paying $200 for something that doesn't work. Any suggestions or input would be appreciated

Thanks,
Gary

Gary, that particular Meindl is new to me and it would be my first pick among the boots you list, followed by the Hanwag and then the Lowa. I have recently noticed a considerable improvement in the quality of Meindls at AJBrooks and that 11" height is very attractive to me. I am not wild about the Hoffmans you mention as I think that the ankle strap is mostly a gimmick, I prefer Schnee's pacs to any others.

I actually will go and have a looksee at that Meindl Dovre, might just be a good snowshoing boot in most conditions and excellent for everything except real climbing....for which they have the "Super Perfekt", a boot I love.

kutenay, I was looking at the "Super Perfect" and the "Alpine Crack GTX" but am leaning towards a taller boot.

I take it that you would not recommend buying the Cabela's version of the Meindl?

I've been using the Lowa model as a benchmark for the type of boot I'm leaning towards. $280 is much easier to swallow than $375, but If you look at the Dovre and think it is worth the extra expense...I'll look for the extra money.

Thanks,
Gary

Gary, as it happens, I am in the process of completely re-doing my equipment as much of it was/is getting old and beat and some of my best gear was stolen. So, I am doing this between training hikes and scouting trips and going down to M.E.C.'s main store here in Vancouver fairly often for bits and pieces like more stuff sacks and the usual crap that you never have enough of. AJBrooks is right across the street from M.E.C. and so I shall go there tomorrow afternoon and check these boots out; my nephew and willing pack mule (evil old bastard that I am!) needs boots too and has asked for my help.

If, you can wait until Sunday evening, assuming they are open as it is a stat hol here this weekend, I can post the results of my giving the Dovre a thorough inspection and this may help you. Like you, I much prefer a taller boot for hunting as I like to wear VERY loose Filson's whipcord pants or Cabela's synthetic "flats" pants for hunting and these do not work very well with gaiters...which are too noisy, anyway.

I honestly cannot say concerning the Meindls made for Cabelas, but, I have heard many times that they are built a tad lighter to meet a "price point"; I can say that the Meindls from AJB are the real deal as I have bought from him for over 30 years. A signifigant part of this in respect of quality is subjective and I am a fanatic about boot quality, Lowa, hanwag and Meindl are all very famous and probably have minor variations in quality control, the latest Meindls I have examined look better than the latest Lowas and this is a change from recent years when Lowas impressed me more than Meindls.

Anyway, I will look at them and let you know tomorrow.

Gary, I am just now back from AJBrooks where I thoroughly examined the Dovre boot and I would NOT buy this boot, it is too lightly constructed for your needs, IMO. They do still have the "Canada" model, discontinued by Meindl a couple years ago, but, since AJB is a major outlet for Meindl, they still can get them as a stocking item, they are $419.95 Canukbux, not cheap.

The Meindl boots I would buy for my own use are three models only, the "Canada", the "Perfekt" which is my all-time favourite commercial hiker and is very good with heavy packs in rough mountains and the "Super Perfekt". The traditional "Perfekt" of these is my choice and I think it is still one of the finest boots available anywhere, although advancing age and serious orthhopaedic damage have caused me to go to custom made boots now.

Given the cost of all of this, you may be better to phone Lathrop's, their expertise is evident to me in posts by Stephen on Kifaru.net.If, you want to call AJB, the toll free # is 1-866-719-6072 and you can discuss the "Canadas" with them, I can say that a lot of B.C. hunters use and like this boot, although I would still pick the "Perfekts."

Hope this helps.

kutenay,

Is this the "Canada" model you're referring to for $419.95 Canadian?:
http://www.ajbrooks.com/qs/product/40/2351/139717/0/0

I really like the "Perfekt", but I'm unsure how I can make it work navigating spring creeks compared to a boot that is at least 10-11" tall.

Thank you for all your help,
Gary

That is the very one, except the latest AJB version has a much higher rubber rand which the son of the owner told me they had requested on the boots made by Meindl for them. My major problem with boots of this type is that I don't like Gore-Tex in boots, but, there are those coated "waders" that one can use over lower boots...but, that is one more thing to carry, so, it's the same old story......

The quality of the boots they showed me looks MUCH better than the Meindls that I have examined for the past several years and equal to anything else on the market. There is an unlined Hunter model on the Viberg site, as well, that is the type of boot that most of us wore here in B.C. for years, this is another option and Gore-Tex socks can be used with these. I don't care for them, but, know guys who swear by them.

Thanks,

I'm not the biggest fan of Gore-Tex either, especially in a boot that will be used hard over years. But I guess when the Gore-Tex delaminates and/or becomes clogged from prespiration, you can just grease the boot leather for waterproofing.

Well I've narrowed my choice down to the following:
- Perfekts (if I can figure out an easy way to overcome the low height).
- Canada (if I can overcome the price and Gore-Tex, I'll phone AJB).
- Viberg Hunter (which model were you referring to, the #44 or #45?):
http://www.workboot.com/hunter.htm

Thanks

I would pick the 45 and this is after examining both of them at Viberg's in Victoria, these are very fine boots. I would expect a air to last even an active hunter for many years, if you look after them and treat them with Obenaufs or Montana Pitchblend, NOT friggin' Snoseal.

Kutenay

I think you should take a real good look at that Lanthrop and Sons website. I know you want to buy local up there in BC, but you have also stated many times that you have some severe foot problems. Lathrop and Sons are podiatrists and they have developed a custom system to offer with Hanwag boots. So you have to get your feet measured and photographed just like you would with Charlie Van Gorkum, but unlike Charlie you can get a higher and more insulated HUNTING boot instead of a Hiking boot.

Take a look. Expensive yes, but maybe worth it to you.

I am familiar with Lathrop's and am impressed by their website which I have checked many times. I have leg, not foot problems and have dealt with this during my time working and playing in the B.C. mountains. I do not like insulated boots for serious mountaineering or alpine hunting as they will not stay dry.

Charlie will build to my specs and his boots are far superior to anything else I have ever seen, only Galibier Super Guides came close. They are high enough for me and work well with NEOS overboots, too; in deep snow, I wear Schnee's and in really severe cold, on stand, I were Mickey Mouse boots or Canforce mukluks.

I have been wearing highend boots in the western Canadian mountains since 1961 and I honestly consider Van Gorkum's to be the finest boots available, although they cost $650.00 USD. BTW, when I was in his shop in Telkwa in mid-June, Charlie told me that the prices will go up to about $695.00 USD next month and this seems like a lot, yet, my wife's custom boots he built for her in 1993 are still in fantastic shape....it's worth it, in the long term.

Thanks for your kind suggestion, I appreciate the concern.

Maybe there is a business opportunity for someone to start importing Galibier boots from France, or better yet, manufacturing something comparable here in North America

Well, I doubt that the market is here now as the synthetic boots made in China, etc. are lighter and better for step-ins and the plastic double boots are better for high, cold mountains like McKinley, Logan, St. Elias and so forth. People just will not pay the price for really top quality leather boots and I saw this just before I retired as boot fitter for the largest mountain goods store in Canada (except M.E.C.); you simply can't move good boots here.

The real value in the Galibier was that they would outlast anything else and they were the best for really tough alpine hunting as they gradually molded to your feet and gave you terrific support while being precise enough to edge along on Goat cliffs, while staying dry due to the superb Galluser leather they were made of. They were too stiff for Whitetail hunting as they "clomped", but, for Sheep, Goat and Elk, nothing equalled them.

If, someone would import them again, we would have the best alpine hunting boot I have seen, but, I think that they would have to sell for over $500.00 USD and most guys won't pay that for hunting boots.....and don't really need to.

Kutenay,

You have a pmn about a totaly unrelated subject

kutenay,

Phoned AJB. They were helpful w/ great advice. The new Canada Pro w/ the high rand is due in by the end of the month. They've offered a good deal and will phone me when in. I'm sending in my foot outline and measurements.

Thanks Again!
Gary

That seems like your best bet although good boots are getting so pricey that I hoard my best ones which are no longer available for serious stuff and use lighter ones for regular hiking. Glad I could help.

I know this is the proverbial day late and a dollar short, but I'd be curious about you familiarity with Van Gorkum hand made custom boots for the type of hunting that was the topic of this discussion.

Thanks much,

Bill

Hey, if your foot is somethign in the 10-11 size, I've got a pair of Meindal Canadas for sale. USed but not abused!

Gatehouse,

If the offer is directed towards me, thanks...but I'm specifically getting the AJB "new version" of the Canada Pro.

Gary

Gary

I directed it at you or anyone!

The boots I am selling are the same as the one in your link.

But get which ever boots you wish, they are avery personal choice. Meindals just happen to be a bit too narrow for my feet, and while I have never had my foot in a finer mountain boot, they just dont' work for me.

I recently had some Vibergs made for me, and they feel great. Next on my list is a pair of Van Gorkums. My feet are just too wide for most off the shelf footwear.